Portable foldable radioantenna



y G. F. GILCREST PORTABLE FOLDABLE RADIOANTENNA Sept. 14 1926t 1,599,960

Fild April 27, 1925 141g fA/VENTU@ GF GIL @EEST Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. GILCREST, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PORTABLE FOLDABLE RADIOANTENNA.

vAmlieanon mea Aprn 27, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in aerials or antennae for radioreceiving sets and resides in the provision of an inexpensive, portable,small and compact form of antenna which may be more easilyand quicklyinstalled and will take considerably less room than the ordinary antennaequipment.

An object of the invention is to provide an antenna of the characterdescribed that need not be of any larger construction than the ordinaryloop antenna but which will give re salts better than a loop 'antennaand as good if not better than the ordinary 100 foot aerial.

A further object is to provide a made up antenna of `the characterdescribed which may be folded into small compass when not in use therebyconveniently carried, packed or stored.

Another object is to provide an antenna which comprises small skeletonframes made up of upright and horizontal lengths of heavy gage copperwire, which frames are mounted on a small standard and are subject tomovement from collapsed position lying substantially parallel one uponthe other into position of use extending substantially atright angles toone another and vice versa, the said frame intersecting and beingelectrically connected at points of intersection as well as fastened atsuch points, to the standard. The angular extension of the framesinsures picking up of radio energy effectivelyT regardless of thedirectional relation of the sending station and the receiving set.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and set forth in theclaims hereto app-ended, it being understood that various changes in theform, proportion, size and minor details of construction within thescope of the claims may be resorted Vto without departing from thespirit or sacrilicing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of the aerial of my invention as whenit is arranged in position of use.V

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the aerial as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a top plan of the aerial as when in folded orcollapsed position.

Serial No. 26,032.

Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the aerial as when in collapsedposition.

The aerial or antenna of this invention comprises like rectilinearframes generally designated 1 and 2, Ieach of which comprises uprightside pieces 3 and 4L extending be tween and joined to which are aplurality of horizontally spaced pieces 5. Each of these pieces isformed of heavy copper wire in order to have good conducting qualitiesand the pieces where engaged with one another are soldered or otherwisejoined together. rlhe two frames are mounted on an upright standard 6preferably constructed of wood, but which may be of any other material.Each cross piece is provided with a half circular bend 7 centrally ofvits ends, which bend partially encompasses the standard. To hold theframes on the standard so that they may be folded flat, one upon theother, or extended at right angles to one another and electricallyjoined as well, a plurality of U- shaped metal clamps 8 are arranged toclamp over the bends 7. Bolts 9 are inserted through the standard andclamps and have wing nuts 10 turned on their outer ends so that the nutswill bind against the outer faces of the clamps.` On tightening the nutsthe clamps are engaged with the bent portions so as to hold the framesagainst turning and to establish an electrical connection between theright angularly extending cross pieces of the two frames. To collapse orfold the device, the nuts are loosened and one of the frames is swung sothat it lies flat against the other frame7 the two frames being thensubstanti ally parallel. T he nuts may be tightened to hold the framesin collapsed or folded form.v

On the lowermost cross piece of one of the' frames a suitable clip 11may be soldered or f' otherwise secured so that a lead line 12 may beattached thereto for the purpose of connecting the antenna with anordinary radio receiving set, not shown.

Extending downwardly from the lower end of the standard is a short rod13 upon which a tube 1114 of insulation material is mounted, this beingheld in place by a supporting member 15 on the lower side of said rod.

To install the aerial, a support 16 is made fastv to some part of thestructure on which the aerial is to be mounted and provided with asocket or bore 17 at its upper end.

The rod and bushing are inserted into this bore and the annular shoulder18 on the upper end of the bushing engages the upper end of the supportand spaces the lower end of the standard from the support. A suitabledrain opening 19 may be formed in the support to prevent accumulation ofwater in the socket. It is noted that the socket is made sutlicientlydeep to space the lower end of the rod from the lower end ci' thesocket.

The antenna oit' this invention having the frames capable of extensionat right angles to one another, electrically connected, and each :tramecomposed of a plurality of vertical and horizontally extending copperwires, the horizontal lengths electrically joined to one another,provides ample capacitance to operate a radio set as elliciently as theordinary type ot antenna now commonly used. The right angular extensionoi' the trames provides for an eifective picking up of the radio energyregardless of the direction ot location ot the transmitting station.This is an advantage over the ordinary one way antenna which usually,

' when extended in one direction provides better results than whenotherwise extended.

The advantages ot the antenna of my invention are that less space isrequired to install it, the installation may be eiiiected at a lowercest and much more quickly and the device may be packed er stored in asmaller space, all vas compared to the ordinary antenna equipment.

I claim:

l. An antenna for use in connection with radio receiving sets comprisingan upright standard, a plurality of skeleton frames constructed et'metal having goed conducting qualities for electrical energy and whichconsists of a plurality of upright pieces electrically connected with aplurality oit' horizontally disposed pieces and means for supportingsaid irames upon said standard providing for movement of the frames fromposition lying substantially parallel one against the other intoposition extending substantially at right angles to one another, whichmeans establishes an electrical connection ot the cross pieces of oneframe with the cross pieces ot the other trame.

2. An antenna for use in connection with radio receiving sets comprisingan upright standard, a plurality of skeleton Jframes constructed 0imetal having goed conducting qualities tor electrical energy and whichconsists ot a plurality of upright pieces electrically connected with aplurality of horizontally disposed pieces and `means for supporting saidframes upon said standard providing for movement of the frames fromposition lying substantially parallel one against the other intoposition extending substantially at right angles to one another,

which means establishes an electrical connection ot the cross pieces ofone frame with the cross pieces of the other frame, said cross pieces ofthe frames having half circular bends centrally oi their ends, whichbends entend around the standard.

3. An antenna tor use in connection with radio reciving sets comprisingan upright standard, a plurality of skeleton :trames constructed ofmetal having good conducting qualities for electrical energy and whichconsists of a plurality of upright pieces electrically connected with aplurality of horizontally disposed pieces and means for supporting saidframes upon said standard providing tor movement of the trames fromposition lying substantially at right angles to one another, which meansestablishes an electrical connection ci the cross pieces oi one tramewith the cross pieces of the other trame, said cross pieces ot thetrames having halt circular bends centrally of their ends, which bendsextend around the standard, said means comprising clamps adapted toengage the bent portions, screw threaded vmen'ibers projecting throughthe standard and nuts turned on the screw threaded members providing fortightening or loosening the clamps.

.4. An antenna tor use in connection with radio receiving setscomprising an upright standard, a pair of trames each comprising aplurality oiI pieces of wire formed of material having good conductingqualities for electrical energy, which wires extend vertically andhorizontally, half circular bends provided intermediate of the ends ofthe horizontal portions of the frames, which bends are engaged with thestandard, screw threaded members carried by the standard, clampssupported on the screw threaded members and adapted to engage the bentportions, nuts turned on the screw threaded members and bearing againstthe clamps and means provided on one ot the frames tor establishingconnection on one end of a lead in wire with said trames.

ti. An antenna for use in connection with radio receiving setscomprising an upright Standard, a plurality of rectilinear frames eachcomprising a plurality of spaced horizontal bars, a plurality ot uprightbars which are joined to the ends ot the horizontal bars, said framesbeing mounted on the standard substantially at right angles to oneanother and having` the horizontal bars intersecting one another, and aplurality of elements for fastening said -trames to the standard, whichelements engage the intersecting portions ot said frames and establishan electrical connection between said portions of said frames. f

GEORGE F. GILCREST.

Sil

